Detenting mechanism for clocks.



A, L. HAHL. DETENTING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY ZI, 1915. 1,258,768.

PatentedjMar. 12, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS L. HAZEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DETENTING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS.

Application filed May 21, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS L. i-lann, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Detenting Mechanism forClocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved dotenting' mechanism orcontrolling device especially adapted for use with clocks.

The object of the invention is to provide a detenting mechanism adaptedfor use with master clocks or other such mechanism or appliances, whichmust operate at regular and invariable intervals of time. This improveddetenting device is an improvement upon, and is adapted as a substitutefor, the detenting mechanism shown and described in my prior Patent No.1,098,495, of June 2, 191%. The immediate purpose of the invention is toprovide an improved detenting mechanism peculiarly adapted for use withmaster clocks of pneumatic time systems, in which the motor is releasedat regular in tervals by detenting devices of the time movement, andpermitted to send air impulses through the conduits, and thereby actuatethe secondary clocks.

The principal purpose of this invention is to simplify the constructiondescribed in the above-mentioned patent, and to provide amore perfectdetenting mechanism.

A further object is to provide a direct method of detenting, asexplained in the above patent, while eliminating the planetary orinternal gearing of the detenting mechanism therein described, and inthis and other ways reducing the frictional and other losses to aminimum. Still another object is to provide a detenting mechanism whichwill consume a minimum of power from the time train of the clock orother device to which it is applied.

These and other objects of the invention will. appear more fully in thefollowing specification taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an enlarged plan view of the controlling ordetenting mechanism.

Fig. 2is an elevation thereof.

Fig. 3-is a'vertical section, taken substantially'onthe line 3-3'0fFigs. 1 and 2; and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 29,527.

Fig. 41 is an enlarged plan View of a cam and its associated parts whichare employed in said controlling mechanism.

My improved mechanism is carried by a frame which comprises principallythe plates 20 and 21, and a supplementary plate 23, which are mutuallysecured and spaced apart by members 2 1, and other suitable devices.

The controlling mechanism comprises a stop 25, and stop arm 26, saidstop being given a combination of movements whereby the stop member maybe gradually moved out of the path of the arm and caused to passsuddenly into the path of the arm at the desired intervals. The stop armis given a considerable length, and is made to rotate a considerablenumber of times between successive operations of the stop, beingactuated by a suitable motor through a train of gearing, or othertransmission mechanism, (not shown) and thence through the shaft 30.

The stop arm carries a spring 31, which strikes the stop 25 and softensthe impact of the arm against the stop. The stop is given a gradualmovement radially with respect to the arm 26 by the pin wheel 32, whichimparts an angular movement to the lever 33, upon which the stop ismounted. The disk or pin wheel 32 carries a series of pins whichsuccessively actuate the lever 33. The disk or pin wheel is controlledin its movement in the direction indicated by the arrow by the timetrain, indicated generally by the numeral The dish is securee to the upright shaft 36, lmvin bearing at itsupper end in t in frame plate 21,and at its lower end in the upper extremity of the shaft 30. The gearwheel 37 is secured to saic. shaft 36 and meshes with and drives a inion38. The last-named pinion is secured to a gear 39, forming the first ofa series of parts forming the time train 35.

Secured to the shaft 30 adjacent the gear 37 is a hub or collet 40, towhich the inner end of a spiral spring 41 is attached. The outer end ofthis spring is attached to the gear by means of a pin 4:2. It will be observed that the rotary motion of the said shaft has a tendency towind upthe spring a1, and the said spring in turn has a tend ency to impartrotary motion to the gear 37. The shaft 30 rotates at regular intervals,said intervals being controlled by the timetrain and detent mechanismabove described;

The stop arm 26 is driven by the motor train, when released by the stop25, through a train of mechanism beginning with the gear secured to theshaft 30, and meshing with and driving the pinion d6 secured to theshaft 47. This latter shaft carries a gear 48, which meshes with anddrives a pinion 49, secured to a shaft 50. This latter shaft carries thestop arm 26, and the gearing above descri ed is so proportioned as togive ten or more revolutions of said stop arm for every singlerevolution of the shaft 47.

The stop is secured to and carried by the arm 33, which, in turn, isfixed to asmall vertical shaft 51 mounted in the end of the disengagingarm The movement of this disengaging arm is such as to carry the lever33 downwardly and outwardly a short distance, and hence to cause theupper end of the stop 25 to move out of and into the plane of movementof the stop arm 26. The arm 52 is secured to the horizontal shaft. 5%,said shaft also having two oppositely disposed arms 55 and 56 secured toit. These arms and 56 have a sul stantially vertical position, theirends being disposed opposite cams 57 and 58, respectively which controlthe stop-disengaging and restoring movements of the arm 52.

The disengaging cam 58 has a general circular form with a notch 59 inits periph cry, which is adapted to receive the end 56 of the arm 56.lVhen the motor train is at rest the end 56 lies adjacent the innerportion of the cam slope 60, said cam slope being adapted to push saidend outwardly at the beginning of each operation and to cause the arm 52to move downwardly and the stop to move out of the plane of rotation ofthe stop arm 26. The stop 25 is thus caused to be moved to a positionentirely free of the stop arm until it is desired to stop the motortrain. At this time the stop is restored to its position. in the planeof said arm by the cam 57, which engages the upper end of the arm andpushes it outwardly, thus causing the arm to rise, and causing the stopto move suddenly into the path of the stop arm 26. The cam 57 ispreferably attached to the body of another cam 61, secured to theupright shaft 47. Said cam 57 is provided with a beveled face 61 bywhich it engages the end of the arm and pushes it outwardly.

The arm 33 formed at its end as shown at 63, where it engages the pinson the pin wheel 32. This permits each pin 34: to impart an angularmovement to said arm at the end of which angular movement thedisengaging operation above described takes place. The downwarddisengaging movement of the arm 33, which is caused by the cam 58actuating the disengaging arm 52, permits said arm to be movedbackwardly through the same angular distance to a position where it canengage another of the pins 34L when said arm is raised. This angularmovement is produced by the cam 61, which actuates the arm 65,preferably integral with the arm The cam (31 is so proportioned withrespect to the cam 58 that the arm will be brought to a position whereinthe forked end 63 will lie directly below one of the pins slightly inadvance of the time when the slope acts upon the end of the arm 56. Thecam 61 is provided with the face 61 concentric with its axis by whichthe double arm level 65-- 33 is held rigidly in one an ular positionwhile it is being restored to engagement with one of the pins 31. Duringthe operation of the motor train, while the stop 25 and arm aregradually moving toward the leftas viewed in Fig. 1,-the extremity ofthe arm 65 is moving inwardly toward the position indicated by dottedlines 65. The cam is cut away at 61 for that purpose.

It will be observed that the stop 25 is given a movementin twodirections by the mechanism above described. There may be said to befour steps or periods in these two movements, the first of which is aradial movement with respect to the arm 26, by which it gradually passesbeyond the end of said arm and releases it, thus allowing it to rotateunder the power imparted to it by the motor train.

The second period or step in these movements is the downward strokeproduced by the disengaging arm 52 when actuated by the slope 60 of thecam 58.

The third step in these movements is the angular movement of the arm 33and hence of the stop 25, which is caused by the cam ('31 during theoperation of the motor train.

The fourth step in the series of movements is the sudden verticalmovement of tie arm 33, and of the stop 25, which is brought about bythe slope 61 of the cam 57 when it strikes the arm and hence produces anupward movement of the arm 52. This sudden upward movement takes placeduring a fraction of a single rotation of the stop arm 26, and hencecauses the stop 25 suddenly to stop the rotation of said arm.

The releasing movement of the stop (said releasing movement being thatin which the stop is moving radially with respect to the stop arm 26 andgradually passing beyond its end) is effected by the slow movement ofthe pin wheel 32, said movement being controlled by the time train 35.This move ment is produced by the power of the spring 4-1, which exertsa constant driving force upon the gear 37, irrespective of the variabledriving force of the motor. For this reason I term the spring 41 aconstant power element. Power is stored in said spring during the periodof the operation of the motor train, and is given out by said spring tothe time train 35 during the period of rest of said motor train.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the time train35 causes the stop 25 to release the stop arm 36 at regular intervals,preferably one minute, thereby allowing the motor train to run. A veryimportant feature of the invention is the elimination of frictionalresistance, which usually occurs in detenting mechanisms; and toaccomplish this purpose I have provided a very long travel of the end ofthe stop arm during each rotation. t is a well-known mechanicalprinciple that in the transmission of a given quantity of energy througha mechanism, the pressure transmitted is inversely proportioned to thedistance traveled. For this reason I have given a relatively greatlength to the stop arm, and have geared it to run at a relatively highspeed. To make this construction and operation feasible, a positiveclearance must be maintained between the stop and stop arm during theoperation, and means must be provided to cause an instantaneous andpositive movement of the stop into the path of the stop arm at the endof the operation. In my improved mechanism the stop is moved quicklyinto the path of the stop arm during a fractional part of one revolutionof the latter, and this is accomplished by the slope of the cam 57 whichoccupies a very small portion of the circular travel of the cam. Thisoperation is also made possible because of the poised andcounterbalanced arrangement of the levers in the controlling mechanism.The quick return of the stop into the path of the stop arm isaccomplished by means of the combination of independent lateral andradial movements of the stop relative to the stop arm. After thereleasing movement the stop is given movement out of the plane of thestop arm by the disengaging arm 52 and cam 58, which members effect thatmovement while the lever 33 is passing out of engagement with one of thepins 34.

It is understood that the detail construction and arrangement of mytwo-way detent will be somewhat varied, when applied to master clocks inwhich the motor and time train are separated from each other by aconsiderable distance, or when applied to motor-driven secondary clocksor apparatus controlled by a pneumatic or electric master clock, or whenapplied to individual clocks in which the motor and time-train arerelatively close together.

Although I have shown and described aparticular embodiment of myinvention, and have explained its operation in a particular manner forpurposes of illustration, it will be understood that I contemplatechanges in form and arrangement of parts as circumstances may suggest ornecessity render expedient Without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, a time-train, amotor-train, a stop, a stop arm, means actuated by said time-train formoving said stop in the plane of movement of said stop arm out ofengagement therewith, and means actuated by said motor-train forreturning said step into the path of said stop arm.

2. In a device of the class described, a time-train, a motor-train, astop, a rotary stop arm, means actuated by said time-train for movingsaid stop in the plane of rotation of said stop arm, and means actuatedby said motor-train for moving said stop to and from. the plane ofrotation of said stop arm.

3. In a device of the class described, a motor-train, a time-train, astop, a rotary stop arm, means actuated by one of said trains for movingsaid stop in the plane of rotation of said stop arm out of engagementtherewith, and means actuated by one of said trains thereafter formoving said stop out of said plane of rotation of said stop arm and thenpositively returning said stop into said plane of rotation of said stoparm.

In a device of the class described, a stop, a rotary stop arm, means formoving the stop radially away from the stop arm in the plane of rotationthereof, and means for moving said stop out of the plane of rotation ofsaid stop arm.

5. In a device of the class described, a stop, a rotary stop arm, andmeans for successively moving said stop away from said stop arm in theplane of rotation thereof, then out of the plane of said stop arm, thenradially toward said stop arm in a plane different from the plane ofrotation of the stop arm, and finally back into the plane of rotation ofsaid stop arm for engagement therewith.

6. In a device of the class described, a stop, a stop arm, and means forsuccessively moving said stop radially away from the stop arm in theplane of rotation thereof, then out of the plane of said stop arm, thenin. a direction radially toward said stop arm in a plane different fromthe plane of rotation thereof, and finally back into the plane ofrotation of said stop arm for engagement therewith.

'7. In a device of the class described, a stop, a rotary stop arm, atime-train, a motor-train, a rotary pin-wheel actuated by saidtime-train, an arm carrying said stop and having an engageable partadapted to receive one of the pins of said pin-wheel whereby therotation of said pin-Wheel carries said stop out of engagement with saidarm and returning it into engagement with stop arm, a lever connected tosaid arm, a said stop arm ai'ter a predetermined insupporting armconnected to said lever and terval.

said first named arm, and means actuated In testimony whereof, I havesubscribed by said motor arm for operating said lever my name.

and said supporting arm for maintaining said stop out of engagement withsaid stop AUGUSTUS L. HAHL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

